Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Case Report
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Sarcoidosis is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by abnormal T-cell responses to unknown antigens. It is a multisystem disorder, affecting the lungs and intrathoracic lymph nodes in over 90% of cases. Isolated renal sarcoidosis, a rare presentation, is confined to the kidneys without systemic involvement. CASE PRESENTATION: A 46-year-old African American female was evaluated for persistently abnormal serum creatinine and pyuria. The only abnormality on her noninvasive workup was an elevated angiotensin converting enzyme level for which she was evaluated previously and she was not found to have any manifestations of sarcoidosis. We performed a kidney biopsy that showed findings of renal sarcoidosis and concomitant membranous nephropathy. Patient was treated with high-dose corticosteroids with stabilization of kidney function and resolution of sterile pyuria. CONCLUSION: Our case highlights that an elevated angiotensin converting enzyme level can predate the development of an overt renal sarcoidosis. It also shows that findings of a secondary membranous nephropathy can sometimes be seen in the absence of overt proteinuria in sarcoidosis involving the kidneys.
Source: Journal of Medical Case Reports
Authors: Chandan Alenahalli Narayana, Faryal Safdar, Rachana Harish, Shunhua Guo, Ahsan Aslam
Language: English
Subfield: Physiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,890
OpenAlex ID: W4415467794